February

The hot dry conditions quickly dry the plants and soil in the garden. Animals will seek shelter in cool shady spots.  Both the plants and animals will be needing a little extra water. 

The sun is tracking further to the north and the length of daylight is getting shorter.

February Weather

The weather continues to be hot and dry like January.  Local thunderstorms will help refresh the garden but the rain quickly evaporates.

What is Happening?

The overall impression of the garden during this month is usually one of dryness. 

Plants

• Many grasses, sedges and rushes have gone to seed and the dry seed heads shake and rustle in the hot winds.  A summer storm will freshen the summer active native grasses - Kangaroo and Red grasses. 
• Many trees and shrubs still look healthy and green despite the dryness. The Old Man Saltbush near the gate is a good example. 
• Some trees and shrubs are still flowering like the Western Australian Mallee, native rosemary and grevilleas.
• The wattles have dropped their seed and are now preparing for their winter blossoms.  The beginnings of little flower buds can be seen along the branches.
• Woody seed pods can be seen on the Native Hibiscus and eremophilas that were flowering a few months ago.
• Yellow flowers everlasting daisies, the smaller local native Sticky Everlasting Daisy and a larger cultivar Dargan Hill Monarch provide lovely bright splashes of colour.
• Crepe Myrtles are developing fruit after their burst of blossoms over the last few months. These fruit become favoured sources of food for the Yellow Rosellas in late autumn.
• The local Tall Sedge around the dam and wetland area still remains green.

Animals

• Insects seem to be busy buzzing around the garden despite the dryness.
• The eremophila and grevillea flowers are hosting breakfast for the ants.
• Early morning is the best time to see birds feeding in the garden before it gets too hot. Many of the birds are old favorites in urban gardens – Magpie, Peewee (Magpie Lark), Sulfur Crested Cockatoo, Crested Pigeon and Yellow Rosella. 
• There always seems to be an abundance of introduced house sparrows and blackbirds hanging around the chook yard where there is easy food to be had.

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